Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-06-24
IN SEARCH OF A MISSION
BY HELEN LUQUEER.

cutest title thing living"
"Any more adjeCtiN esq" laughed the
brother of Mrs. Peters.
He had just run out to her country
place on the Hudson river for a little
rest, fresh mir and TO make the acQuain-
tance of Mr.. Peters young sister Nell,
who had but lately returned from a
foreign tour, ard of whom all the letters
of Madam Peters had raved about.
eyes" continued that lady, "she is 50
very original, witty, interesting and not a
bit like the girls of the day"
"Probably that comes from her resi-
dence abroal-American independence
with continental breeding. But, Sue,
do not think shall like your paragon.
Anything for me but these forward silly
confident, opirionated misses, who would
snub her grandmother if she dared ven
ture to disagree with her"
await and see. All! here she comes.
That Is her laugh. Get behind yonder
screen. She has been out for q morning
walk and of which she usually gives ME
a graphic description. want you to see
and hear her without the restraint of your
presence. You can peep through the little
hole in the screen and my shawl will hide
your feet. Hi2t"'
The door opened at the moment, and
just as Mrs. Peters had resumed her seat
and compo. ed her features to their custo-
mary bland and innocent expression.
From his rather confined position be-
hind the screen Alec Desmond saw pink
and white specimen of girlhood come
dancing in aglow with health and exer-
else, with eyes brown and merry, hair ex-
ceedingly abundant and fluffy, and Of the
traditional nut-brown color.
"Dear Sue''-in voice remarkably
sweet-'I have had both walk and an
adventure"
"Well?"
"Let me recover my breath. wish /
could learn net to run up stairs" and she
threw herself into chair opposite her
sister-in-law. "Well, you know, dear,
that am in search of mission"
$50 you said, Nell, as you went out
about an hour ago." laughed Mrs. Peters.
"And as then said, not being possessed
of a sufficient amount of talents to darn
stockings or rock the cradle of future
possible President shall never marry.
In short. l shall drift into a sort of a femi-
nine sybarite."
"But the mission" suggested Mrs.
Peters.
al have found it! I shall establish and
endow retreat for the most abused and
down-trodden Of the human race-organ
grinders"
'Anyth:ng to clear the streets of them,
and it is certainly bright idea, Nell"
II was moved to this conclus ion by sec.
ing and aged specimen Of the clas kicked
oil of and aristocratic doorstep where the
poor wretch and his Statelite s-his grand
daughter and monkey-had comfortably
established themselN es. And, if you will
believe me, Sue, they were not even per-
mitted to breakfast off of very much
soled bandaHa handkerchiefint that shaded
and sheltered place."
"Horriblew exclaimed the lady with
mock pity.
"Well, my heart actually went down
into the dust with the poor old man as he
lay there in the gutter amid his scattered
crusts. And now, guess what reckless
thing l did then and there in the very
teet4l of that aristocratic madsion?"
"Emptied your pockets of all your
change" was the laughing reply.
"Indeed did not for the simple reason
that had not cent with me. But Lict.
ure to yourself little Gretchen sitting upon
the curbstone wailing at the top of her
voice, the monkey chattering with all the
strength of its lungs on the top of the
lamp-post and old Beppo on his back in
the gutter, and myself, in this pretty
white dress and pink ribbons standing
there using the little of Italian could
command in cXpletivcs and sympathy"
"a strange tablcau, certainly"
cat last actually assisted old BeppC
upon his crooked old legs, and with my
orris-perfumed handkerchief wiped the
tears out of little Gretchen's big blue eyes,
"For mercy's sake, tell me what else
you did and before whose residence al
this happened
"The lie Barras. Then, with the dirty
little hand of Gretchen in mine, her other
one tightly clasped In that of her grand,
father and last of all, he leading Pips-'
"Who is Pips!"
"The monkey to be sure. Well, in this
fashion, Sue, we slowly and triumphantly
made our way homeward."
"HomewardS" repeated Mrs. Peters in
CONSERVATION.
ayes. AS to the old man and the CIR
hadn't a single scruple, but am free tc
confess, Pips was little too much for me-.
"Ridiculous! Why, Nell, did you ever
see these creatures beforef"
"Never"
"Then how came you TO know theil
names?"
That is simply base fabrication Of
my own--poetical license, you know.
named them to please my fancy"
"And where are they now, you mad
young slaughterer of proprietiesW
10, ! struggled them in at the area
gate, gave old Beppo a cup Of coffee left
from breakfast, a roll and slice of ham,
and left him and Pips on the wash-bencl
in the back verenda, and placed little